CHRISTMAS WITH THE MOUSEKINS

Age Range: 4 - 8

Pub Date: Sept. 14th, 2010ISBN: 978-0-375-83330-4Publisher: Knopf

This Christmas compendium of craft ideas, recipes and poems is woven into a related story about a mouse family preparing for their celebration of the holiday. The family, including a visiting grandmother, engages in lots of traditional activities, both inside and outside, with spreads about the mouse family alternating with spreads offering recipes and instructions for simple craft projects. Additional short poems are worked into the illustrations of the family’s activities. The anthropomorphic world of the mouse family is quite believable, right down to every detail of their well-appointed home, and the mice are undeniably cute in their winter clothing. The overall result, however, is a busy and rather cluttered effort, very sweet and old-fashioned in tone, which may appeal more to adults than to children. Those fond of mice will find this nice. (Picture book. 4-8)